Boot or shoe



NdModeL 2 'SheetsSheet 1 G. s. FRANTZ'.

BOOT 0B- SHOE.

o. 384,437. Patented June 12, 1888.

F J VESSES; I %7@ v I I Attorney/ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. SPRANTZ.

BOOT OR SHOE.

Patented June 12,1888.

, l 4 4 Attorneys ".rnim Piiolo-Liflmgnpher. Walhinginn. n :1

IN .NTOR

WITNESSES. @1 5, M06 W GEORGE S. FRANTZ,

Trice.

ATENT on URBANA, orno.

BOOT OR SHOE.

$PECIPICATIONforming part of Letters Application filed October 10, 1887.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. FRANTZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Urbana, in the county of Champaign and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Uppers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,- and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilledin the art to which it appertains tomakeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in Which Figure 1 is a side view taken from the outer side of a ladys shoe constructed according to my invention, showing the shoe when laced. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, showing the shoe unlaccd and open, the opening in the outer quarter being shown in this view formed with scalloped edges. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 00 0a of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. represents an outline of the vamp. Fig. 5 represents an outline ofthe full quarter, showing by dotted line the line on which the opening in the outer quarter is cut. Fig. 6 represents an outline of the rear section of the outer quarter. Fig. 7 represents an outline of the forward section of the outer quarter. Fig. 8 represents an outline ofthe piece which I shall denominate the tongue-piece. Fig. 9represents an outline of the facing strip for the top of the shoe, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line y y of Fig. 1.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to that class of shoes, both for ladies and gentlemens use, which extend up to and fit closely around the instep and ankle and are secured upon the foot by a lacing device; and my invention has for its object the production of a lace-shoe that is better fitting and much more durable, and also a much neatershoe in appearance when on the foot than any now manufactured.

To these ends my invention consists in the new and improved shape and combination of parts of a shoe-upper of 'this class, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the several parts by letter, in the accompanying drawings I have shown a ladys shoe constructed according to my invention; but I do not wish to confine myself Patent N0. 384A37, dated June 12, 1888.

Serial No. 251,935. (No model.)

to a ladys shoe, as gentlemens shoes can be constructed in the same manner, and will possess the some advantages.

A indicates the outer quarter, and B indicates the inner quarter, of my new and improved shoe, both quarters being first cut precisely alike; but the inner quarter isleft whole, while the outer quarter is cut to form the opening, as hereinafter described.

G indicates the vamp, which is of ordinary construction.

The outer quarter, A, is split or cut from top to bottom on the line indicated by the dotted line on Fig. 5, commencing at the bottom about three-fourths of an inch from the front edge, D, of the quarter, and curving up, as shown by the dotted line on Fig. 5, to a point at the top of the quarter about two inches from the front edge, D, thereof. The outer quarter can be cut in this manner either with a straight edge, as shown in Fig, 1, or with scalloped edges, as shown in Fig. 2. Both of the edges thus formed are faced on the inside with a leather facing strip, E F, about onehalf inch wide, the edge G of the rear section, A, being faced and beaded to the top of the quarter, and the upper end of its leather facingstrip E extending above the top of the quarter about the Width of facingthat is, about one halfinchthis end being turned down between the upper end of thetongue-strip and the top facing, and stitched there, as hereinafter described.

The facing-strip F, which faces the inner side of the edge H of the forward section, A of the split outer quarter, extends up just far enough to have its upper end covered by the lower edge of the top facing-strip. The shape of the rear section, A, of the outer quarter is shown in detail in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the forward section, A is shown in detail in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

In Fig. 8 is shown in detail the tongue-strip I, which forms an important feature of my invention. This strip is cut of substantially the same shape as the front section, A, of the outer quarter, except that it is out about onehalf inch wider to allow for the seam along its rear edge where it is stitched to the rear section, A, of the outer quarter. This tonguestrip, as I here call it, or re-enforcing-strip, is formed of stiff material, so as to prevent it when laced from wrinkling or falling in folds over theinstep and about the ankle, thus adding greatly to the neatness of appearance of the shoe, and also to its comfort in use. This is an important feature of my invention, as this stiff strip overcomes a great annoyance and inconvenience to the wearer which is experienced with other shoes now in use. This stiff strip I is secured to the rear section, A, of the outer quarter by being stitched thereto along the line J, this seam not only securing the rear edge of the stiff strip I to the forward edge portion of the rear section, A, but also stitches down the rear edge of the facing-strip E, which faces the edge G of the rear section, the faced edge G of the rear section being thus left free from the stiff strip I in front of the said seam J.

The top facing-strip, K, of leather, which is shown in detail in Fig. 9 of the drawings, is then stitched in position, the upper end of the facing-strip E, which extends above the top of the rear quarter, being stitched in between the upper end of the stiff strip I and the said top facing, while the lower edge of the other end portion of this top facing extends just over the top end of the facingstrip F of the front section, A. The vamp O is stitched to the lower forward edges of the quarters in the usual manner, as are also the edges of the outer and inner quarter stitched together. The shoe is properly lined, as usual.

A row of lacestuds, L L, is placed on the edges G and H of the front and rear sections, A and A, arranged diagonally opposite one another, and the two parts or edges are then laced together by one or two laces on the outer side of the foot. It will be seen that when the laces are tightened around the said lacingstuds the edges of the two sections of the outer quarter will be drawn closely and neatly together, but will not overlap in the least, thus causing the shoe not only to present an exceedingly neat appearance, but also causing it to feel much more comfortable to the foot than would be the case if the flaps or edges overlapped. The comfort and appearance of the shoe are also increased greatly by the stiff tongue-piece I, which effectually and entirely prevents the shoe from wrinkling or fallingin folds over the instep and about the ankle, thus overcoming agreat inconvenience and annoyance which are experienced with the shoes 110w in use.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. It will be seen that I succeed in constructing a shoe which in neatness,in appearance, and comfort and durability when on the foot and in use possesses great advantages over any shoe now in use, and that the shoe can be put upon the foot much closer than any shoe now in use without injuring theshoe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A pattern for shoe-uppers, consisting of the vamp C and the two quarters A and B, one of the quarters being composed of the two pieces A and A", which together are of the same shape and size of the other quarter.

2. A shoe-upper formed of the vamp C, the quarters A and B, one of which, A, is composed of the two pieces A and A", which to gether are of the same shape and size as the quarter B, and a tongue-strip, I, of stiff material secured to the forward edge of the piece A, said strip being wider than the piece A".

3. A shoe-upper formed of the vamp G, the quarters A and B, one of which, A, is composed of the two pieces A and A which to gether are of the same shape and size as the quarter B, the facing-strips E and F, one of which is longer than the piece A, and a top 85 facing-strip, K.

In testimony that I claim the foregoin gas my own I have hereunto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE s. FBANTZ.

\Vitnesses:

HORATIO P. Havens, R. IV. PICKERING. 

